Final answer:
To analyze usage trends for Lync Online using Microsoft Excel, you should export the data as a CSV file and open it in Excel. This allows for easy import and analysis of the usage data.
Step-by-step explanation:
To analyze usage trends for Lync Online using Microsoft Excel, the correct method is to export the data as a CSV file and open it in Excel. This is option a) in the provided choices. CSV stands for Comma-Separated Values, which is a file format that stores tabular data, such as usage information. By exporting the data from Lync Online as a CSV file, you can easily import it into Excel for further analysis.
Option b) is incorrect because connecting Excel to Lync Online via OData is not the recommended method for analyzing usage trends. OData is a protocol used for querying and updating data, but it is not typically used for importing data into Excel.
Option c) is also incorrect because Lync Online does not have a built-in Excel plugin. It is not possible to directly import the usage data into Excel through an Excel plugin provided by Lync Online.
Option d) is incorrect because manually entering the usage data into Excel would be time-consuming and prone to errors, especially if there is a large amount of data to be analyzed. It is always best to export the data in a suitable format and use the available tools to import and analyze it.